Podcast
Civil Rights for Civil Servants
Hear Shaun Southworth and Lydia Taylor explain federal employee rights, public service, workplace systems, and the people navigating them.
Listen to the podcastNews, rights, tools & learning
Federal Employee Resource Center
Search timely updates, plain-English explainers, practical guides, podcasts, and mindful-action resources. Start with the question you are trying to answer.
When to Hire an Attorney as a Federal Employee—and When You Might Not Need One
As a federal employment attorney who's spent over 20,000 hours in this field, I often get asked the same sincere question: “Do I really need an attorney?” The concern is real. Lega...
The Promise—and Pitfalls—of Class Actions
If you’re a federal employee counting on a class action lawsuit to shield you during a Reduction in Force (RIF) or agency restructuring, you might be setting yourself up for disapp...
Supreme Court Pauses Rehire Order: What Probationary Feds Should Know
In a legal development that’s raising eyebrows across the federal workforce, the Supreme Court has temporarily blocked a California judge’s order that would’ve required the Trump a...
Fired Probationary Feds: Who’s Getting Reinstated—and Who’s Not
A federal judge recently issued a major decision affecting thousands of probationary federal employees who were terminated during the Trump administration. While the original rulin...
Will Your Federal Position Be Reclassified Under Schedule F?
If you’ve recently received notice—or heard whispers—about a reclassification under “Schedule F,” you’re not alone. Federal agencies are currently reviewing positions, particularly...
IRS Layoffs Have Started—Here's How to Mindfully Navigate a RIF
If you've heard whispers about federal layoffs turning into reality, you're not alone. Late last week, the IRS began issuing Reduction in Force (RIF) notices, starting with its Off...
A Mindful Community for Federal Employees
If you've been feeling isolated or overwhelmed in your federal job—whether it's due to disciplinary threats, a confusing probationary period, or agency-wide changes—you are not alo...
No Reasonable Expectation of Privacy: A Reminder to Federal Employees
If you’ve logged into your government computer recently and noticed a stark privacy warning, you’re not alone. USDA employees saw it this week—and similar policies exist across nea...
Can a President Strip Union Rights? NTEU Pushes Back With a Lawsuit
Imagine this: one day you have collective bargaining rights, and the next, they’re gone—stripped away with the stroke of a presidential pen. That’s not fiction. It’s the stark real...
Why Scientists Are Leaving—and Why It Matters
A recent Nature poll suggests a staggering 75% of America’s top scientists are considering leaving the country. While online polls have their limitations, this figure raises a deep...
Is FEMA Being Eliminated? What Federal Employees Need to Know
A surprising statement from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has federal employees buzzing: “We’re going to eliminate FEMA.” Whether this signals a real plan or political po...
When Oversight Is Denied: Mindfulness Amid Constitutional Chaos
A constitutional alarm bell is ringing. In a recent and extraordinary legal standoff, the Department of Justice (DOJ) has refused to comply with a federal judge’s order—even declin...
More ways to learn
Choose the format that helps you understand what is happening.
The Mindful Federal Employee is part of a broader public-education ecosystem from Shaun Southworth, Lydia Taylor, and Southworth PC. Use the resource that fits the question and the moment.
Mindfulness
Work Peacefully
Use practical mindfulness tools to create space between workplace pressure and the decision you make next.
Explore mindfulness resourcesAbout the people behind the work
Shaun Southworth & Lydia Taylor
Meet the federal employment attorneys behind this public-education work and the podcast Civil Rights for Civil Servants.
Meet Shaun & LydiaThe Federal Employee Briefing
The important developments, without the all-day scroll.
Join 3,900+ federal employees getting sourced workforce news and practical next steps on weekdays. It is a free public-service resource from Southworth PC.